The Futurity at Doncaster has provided the following year's 2000 Guineas winner for the following year through Magna Grecia and Kameko. Aidan O'Brien had seven of the original 18 entries but relies on Wembley alone and the runner up from the National Stakes and Dewhurst is the highest rated colt in the field and unsurprisingly he is favourite here. Wembley took a bit of time to get going this season and broke his duck on his 4th start before taking a huge step forward in the National Stakes. He split the same horses that day that he would go on to be the meat in the sandwich again next time but in the reverse order at Newmarket. My one concern is that Wembley has still only actually won a maiden at very short odds and we sometimes see horses who have excellent places in their career but whom have a relatively poor winning strike rate. He is not yet proven at a mile and although he may well be suited by it you never quite know until they prove it. One Ruler was impressive in the Autumn Stakes and Grecia Magna was runner up in that contest before going on to win the Futurity in his 2YO season. One Ruler had been a shade disappointing behind New Mandate when he was 5/4F but that horse went on to land a Group 2 next time and One Ruler looked like he had really got his act together over the mile at Newmarket last time. It was the final furlong where One Ruler really came into his own and came away from his field. Van Gogh stayed on well late on and I have also seen money for Megallan this morning after he also came through from off the pace last time but I can't buy into the idea that the Gosden horse was unlucky that day and he has been a bit disappointing since making a very impressive winning debut. Van Gogh runs at Saint Cloud earlier and faces another Futurity absentee in the unbeaten La Barrosa from the Appleby stable. The Godolphin horse's form hasn't really worked out though and I prefer Van Gogh at 3/1. If he wins it will be a boost to One Ruler's Autumn Stakes success and I have backed the paur in singles and a double. 1.35 Saint Cloud Van Gogh 3/1 2.55 Doncaster One Ruler 3/1 Two singles and a double
At Saint Cloud Bolshoi Ballet is tackling the longer 2YO race over 10F. He was entered in Futurity but would have faced a tough task against Wembley. He madea promising debut at Newmarket when third and then galloped his field into the ground next time to lose his maiden tag in style. 25/1 for both Guineas and Derby, he struck me as a galloping type, rather than a turn of foot horse, and he's all over a Derby sort to my eyes. I am not of a mind to back him for the Derby at 25/1 simply because I don't think a win today will not see his odds for the race shrink to a price that today's odds of 3/1 would suggest as a related contingency. He faces an unbeaten colt in Makaloun, who had run up a hat-trick in smaller races before bolting up in a group 3 last time. The Rouget horse clearly stays well,having won over 9F on heavy last time and he defies the fact that his father was sprinter Bated Breath. Bolshoi Ballet is coming from maiden company, straight to Group 1 and it's a big ask with the Boussac winner also in the field. The runner up to Makaloun was 4th in a Group 3 next time but was beaten by 3 and a quarter lengths smaller margin than the 5 lengths the Rouget horse had beaten him and I feel Makaloun will take the beating at 13/8. This year's Boussac looked a weak affair so despite the female jockey and rags to riches fairy story I will be against her today. 2.50 Saint Cloud Makaloun 13/8
I think Botox Has offers a bit of value in the opener at Cheltenham. He was second behind Allmankind in the Triumph Trial at the track in November but was only beaten 2.5 lengths and gets a handy 4lbs weight concession here. I think it could be a lot closer between the two than the betting suggests.
Well done! It was easy for me yesterday ..... unfortunately like Hey Jonesy, I can never seem to back up a successful run
Interested to see in the bumper at Cheltenham how Animal gets on Was impressed by his debut win last winter and have had a few £ each way at double figure odds
Over that trip, distance, weight I couldnt have had Frodon there. Pin point jumping, rode to perfection.
The 2-33 from Kelso seems to have been a real bunfight at the first fence, with every single runner being affected, from hampered to unseating lol
